Interchangeable turnable heels



April 30, 196s w, MCKINLEY 3,087,265

INTERCHANGEABLE TURNABLE HEELS Filed Mgy e. 19Go 2 I6 47 @s a@ f ',330 3? l l L j I8 I eg j l2 52 l 22 20 'o E gH ne as as 46 'of Hl Fig. i.'

6h 6".' :54 INVENTOR. HIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIH? Wil-UAM MCKNLEY \s2 u lsb BY ulm` 66 .lelllllmm United States Patent tiice 3,087,265 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 3,087,265 INTERCHANGEABLE TURNABLE HEELS William McKinley, 1402 Ave. P, Brooklyn, N.Y. File-d May 6, 1960, Ser. No. 27,332 Claims. (Cl. 36-35) This invention is directed at an improved turnable heel construction.

According to the invention there is provided a heel made of rubber, plastic, fiber or composition material. The body is provided with a cavity for receiving a turnable rubber ring which is stretchable so that it can be secured in place on a core secured to a heel base of a shoe. Outer surfaces of the core and ring can be ribbed or corrugated. The ring and core may be made by laminating a plurality of rubber layers together or can be formed in solid, one piece construction.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a heel having a cavity adapted to receive an annular rubber ring, the ring having an inner wall formed to intert with a mating wall of a circular core which is attachable to a heel base of a shoe.

A further object is to provide a heel structure for a `shoe with a turnable ring adapted to be rotated as it wears at one point so that a fresh portion may be disposed at the point of greatest wear and impact of 'the heel.

Still another object is to provide a heel with a turnable ring having an inner grooved or ridged wall and with a supporting core having a peripherally ridged or grooved wall.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a shoe with a heel embodying the invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan View on an enlarged scale of the heel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective View of the components of the heel of FIGS. 1 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevational view of components of the heel.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through another heel structure according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a ring portion of the heel structure of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational View of the core of the heel structure of FIG. `6.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through still another heel structure embodying the invention.

FIG. l0 is an exploded side elevational view of components of the heel structure of FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5, a heel structure 10 which includes a at body 12 formed with a partially cylindrical cutout or cavity 14. Rotatably fitted in this cavity is a ring 16. The ring is preferably formed as a laminated member with outer flat, annular elements 18, and a central annular element 22. Elements 18 and 20 are formed of tough, resilient rubber and may be split radially at 19 and 21. The splits in the two outer rings are coplanar. The annular element 22 is formed of more elastic rubber than the outer elements and is not split. Element 22 has a central aperture 23 which has a diameter greater than that of the aligned apertures 25 and 27 of elements 18 and 20. Thus an internal annular groove 28 is defined between the elements 18 and 20. A hole 30 may be provided in the ring 16 through which may be inserted a screw 32 secured in heel base 33 of shoe 35 to prevent the ring from rotating in body 12. The outer sides 34 and 36 of the elements 18 and 20 may be ridged or corrugated to increase the cushioning effect of the heel when in use. The several elements 18, 20 and 22 are secured to each other by a suitable cement or may be fused to each other by vulcanization. An elastic web W thus exists in element 22 in the plane of splits 19 and 21, so that the ring 16 can be expanded to t over core 40.

The core is a cylindrical member which may be made from a single piece of rubber or from a plurality of layers 411, 42, 43 cemented together. The layers are circular. The central layer 42 has a larger diameter than layers 4'1 and 43 to dene a ridge 44 adapted to fit in the groove 28 in ring 16. The ring 16 can be expanded to lit over the core because the elastic element 22 stretches at W. When the ring is tted on the core, ridge 44 in groove 28 holds the ring rotatably on the core. Holes 45 in the core receive nails 46 as shown in FIG. 3 which are anchored in the heel base 33 as shown in FIG. 3. The core is thus secured in a stationary position on the heel base while the ring 16 is rotatable to any desired position. The screw 32 is then inserted to lock the ring in the selected position. By removing or loosening the screw, the ring can be rotated to another position and then xed in the new position by reinserting screw 32. After one side 34 or 36 of the ring Ibecomes worn the ring can be removed from the core, turned over and replaced on the core to continue in service until the new exposed side is worn out. The ring 16 can then be removed and replaced by a new one. Core 40 may have a corrugated side 47. y

In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are illustrated another enbodiment of the invention. The ring y16a shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has its intermediate layer 55 formed with a central hole having a diameter less than the diameter of holes 52 and 54 in layers 56 and 57 thereby forming a ridge or shoulder 50'. The several layers will be cemented together. If desired, the ring 1-6a may be formed as a onepiece structure instead of employing a plurality of layers. Core 40a shown in FIG. 8 has a central groove 58 in which engages the ridge 501 when the ring is tted on the core. The ring 16a should be made of tough rubber material which is suiciently flexible and elastic so that it can :be stretched to t on the core. A hole 38a similar Ito hole 30, extends through the ring 16a for receiving a screw, such as screw 32, for securing the ring to the heel base 33, once the ring is on the core.

In FIGS. 9 and 101, ring 16b is formed with a shoulder 60 defined by the outer portion 62 and inner portion 64 of its central aperture. The core 40b is secured to heel base 33a by nails 46a. The core has a ridge or llange 66 which its under shoulder 60 and holds the ring on the core. When the outer side of the ring is worn, the ring can be removed from the core by stretching it to permit narrow portion 64 of the central aperture to pass the ridge 66.

The ring and core structure illustrated has been shown employed in a heel of a shoe, but it can also be used as part of a shoe sole.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to tht precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A heel structure for a shoe, comprising a ring formed of three annular layers secured to each other, the outer 3 ones of .said layers beingformed of tough, resilient materiaL'the"outer'layers having coplanar radial slits therein, the intermediate one of the three layers being an elastic` element having astretchable weblocated betweenthe coplanar radial slits inthe outer layers, saidring-having '.arcentral aperture, and acoredisposed in`said-central aperture, -said ring being rotatable on the core.

'2. A heel structure for a shoe, comprising avring 4formed of threevannularlayers secured to each other,

vthe outer ones ofvsaid layers being formedof tough, re-

..silient material, the outerlayers having coplanar radial `slits therein, the intermediate one' of the three layers be- `ing an elastic element having av stretchable web located between 'the coplanar radial slits in the outer layers, said ring havingk a central aperture formed withan annular groove at the intermediate layer, `and a cylindrical core vdisposed in said central aperture, ,said core having an kannular ridge disposedbetween opposite'sides thereof and fitting within said groove assemblyk so that. the ring 4is rotatable on the core.

4. `A heel structure for a shoe, comprising a ring jformed of three annular layers secured `to, each other,

the outer ones of ,said layers being formed of tough, resilient material, fthe outer layers having coplanar vradial slits therein, the intermediate one of the three layers being an elastic element having a stretchable web located between the coplanar radial slits intheouter layers, said ring having a central aperture formed with an annular groove at the intermediate layer, and a cylindrical core disposed in said central aperture, said core having an annular ridge disposed Ybetween opposite sides thereof and Yfitting within -said'groove assembly so that the ring is rotatable on the core, opposite sides of said ring being corrugated and at least one side of theY core being corrugated f 5. A heel structure for a shoe, comprisingzarring formed .of three annular layerssecured to. each othenthe outer ones of :said layersbeing formed of tough, resilient materiaL the outer layers havingrcoplanarrradial slits vtherein, the intermediateroneof thethreey layersbeing f an elastic elernent'havingV a. stretchable web located between thecoplanar radial slits in the outer layersVsaid ringl having, a central aperture formed .with an annular groovepkzvatthe,intermediate lay/en; andacylindrical core disposed in lsaid central aperture, said core having van lannular ridge disposed vbetween,opposite ,sides thereof zandfitting withinlsaid Vgroove assemblysothat, the ring kisrotatahlefon -the core, oppositesides of said ringba- :ing lcorrugated ,and .at least 'oneV side; of the corebeing corrugated, and a at body having a cylindrical4 cutout, l saidv ring being rotatably` -disposedrin thevcutout of. said -body- .ReferencesrCited in the file of thisjpatent .UNITED `STATES PATENTS l1,439,758 A.Redman ...V- Dec.26, 1922 2,313,368 Smith Mar. 9, 1943 2,500,302 `Vicente Mar. 141950 v2,628,439 f-Rochlin ,Feb.x17, 1953 

1. A HEEL STRUCTURE FOR A SHOE, COMPRISING A RING FORMED OF THREE ANNULAR LAYERS SECURED TO EACH OTHER, THE OUTER ONES OF SAID LAYERS BEING FORMED OF TOUGH, RESILIENT MATERIAL, THE OUTER LAYERS HAVING COPLANAR RADIAL SLITS THEREIN, THE INTERMEDIATE ONE OF THE THREE LAYERS BEING AN ELASTIC ELEMENT HAVING A STRETCHABLE WEB LOCATED BETWEEN THE COPLANAR RADIAL SLITS IN THE OUTER LAYERS, SAID RING HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE, AND A CORE DISPOSED IN SAID CENTRAL APERTURE, SAID RING BEING ROTATABLE ON THE CORE. 